I found all the good threads with info on checking and replacing the cam tensioners on the 88 . What a great site this is ! My ole 99 fxdl has 14,000 original miles on it , so , looks like I'm gonna be running synthetic oil in it now , just to prolong the wear on them ..... Eventually I of course would like to go with the gear driven setup with a better cam , but , times are tough , guess the parts are around $680 for that someday .Thanks to all for the great info .

 

I agree, there is a lot of good info to be found on the forum. Just don't be so quick to jump on the "gotta have gears" bandwagon. Not all tensioners are ticking time-bombs. Two of my buddies have about 90,000 miles combined on their stock tensioners....2002 RK with 55,000 and 2001 FXDWG with 35,000 miles.

I was in a similar situation with my 1999 FXDX. I bought it last spring with 16,000 miles on it and was prepared to spend the money to upgrade when I saved enough to do it. I was forced to tear it down this winter due to a failing cam bearing. Apparently mine was never fixed under the recall for the outer rear cam bearing as it still had the ball bearing in there....which is a whole other story. My point is that @ 20,000 miles I was certain that everything was going to be wore out inside when I tore it apart. To my surprise everything looked like new in there. The tensioners had hardly any wear on them, no grooves or chunks missing...looked like 2,000 instead of 20,000. I could have easily gotten away with upgrading the bearing and putting it back together as-is and confidently went another 20,000 miles without any worries. I am putting it back together with the spring tensioners. I had a member from another forum give me a brand new set for FREE! These, along with some new Andrew's TW26 cams ($130 BRAND NEW! Thanks eBay!) will be in there when I fire it back up this spring.

I'm not trying to discourage your decision to switch to gears, I'm just offering my story to help ease your mind. Since so many people are upgrading, there are a lot of great deals on the "old style" parts for anyone looking to rebuild on a budget.

 

82,000 before I had to replace mine...but checking them every 10,000 miles was a pain.

 

As you will be aware, you have at least three options. Replace the worn parts with the same, fit the hydraulic upgrade kit, or fit the gear upgrade kit. Very tempting to fit new cams once inside! Personally I will go the hydraulic/new cams route as a good compromise. But we're all different!

 

Ok , I agree ... Gear driven was a little hasty to go with . Thanks for the advice from all three of you .

 

i went with the upgrade kit and woods cams tw6 the kit comes with the new pad and a new oil pump its a 2010 upgrade as long as your going in do everything once